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Francisco Alejo Salado Gil

Hi, my name is Francisco and together with a great team we have been growing organic tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet pointed peppers and other vegetables for almost 25 years. Thanks for buying our products!

We are based in Nijar (near Almería), in the heart of the national park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar, which not only has a beautiful natural, volcanic scenery, but is also the perfect "uncontaminated" region to grow fruits and vegetables. The region is right on the coast and has its own special micro climate. Just like in the national park where there is a vibrant natural ecosystem we try to create the right natural balance in our greenhouses which enables us to grow delicious tomatoes and other products. When you successfully bring these two elements together it is a win for all of us.

Interview with Francisco

N & M: Why did you get into organic production?
When I was still a child, like all my friends, we helped our families in the greenhouse during peak picking periods. However, I developed a painful rash from the chemicals that were used for conventional production. This for me was a clear sign that chemicals and food production are not a great mix and it motivated me to search for new methods.

N&M: Was there a lot of information about organic available at that time?
Not at all. At the time there was very little knowledge here about organic and there was no course or other organic growers that I could visit for advice. I therefore had to figure things out for myself, had to be creative and started a long period of constant learning. In fact we are still learning today both from our own experiences as well as through external courses. It is very important for me that our team (including myself) never stops learning because it is the only way to improve the business. Organic production is much more difficult than chemical farming but I have to tell you that my passion, my life is my work and my work is my life. I love it !

N & M: What are you most proud about?
Francisco: Today, I am proud of the fact that I am able to share some of our experiences with other organic growers as well as university students. Furthermore, I am very proud of the fact that we are able, even on a small scale, to contribute to a better future for the next generations and a more friendly environment.

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soil

A healthy, vibrant living soil is essential if you want to grow healthy, vibrant products. We therefore use premium compost that is made from our own green waste material. Currently we are not producing the compost ourselves but we hope to set up a special compost site in 3 - 5 years’ time.

biodiversity

A general principle of organic farming is that every living organism is held in high regard: from the smallest microorganism that lives in the soil to the mighty trees that rise above it. For this reason, every link in the supply chain of organic food is focused on maintaining and, where possible, increasing the diversity of plants and animals. We try and support this biodiversity both inside and outside our greenhouses. Inside, we create an ecosystem that is ideal for tomato production and where there is a good balance between "good" and "bad" bugs. When you visit us, you will also notice hundreds of bumble bees. These great helpers are excellent pollinators and ensure that the beautiful delicate tomato flowers become delicious red tomatoes. We prefer bumble bees to regular bees because they cope better with low temperatures and lower light levels and usually work faster.

individual

When I was still a child, like all my friends, we helped our families in the greenhouse when necessary, However, I soon developed a painful rash from the chemicals that were used for conventional production. This for me was a clear sign that chemicals and food production are not a great mix.
Organic is all about working together with nature and not combatting it with dangerous chemicals and harmful fertilizers. It therefore is more than logical that a choice for organic is not only a good choice for the environment and surrounding ecosystem but also a healthier choice for you.

society

Many of our employees have been working with us for a very long period. They have become very knowledgeable and passionate about organic farming methods and are well motivated. During the peak period we also employ seasonal workers and our goal is always to provide a good working place so that they come back in the next season. This is good for the employees and for us because they already understand the basic principles of organic production. As with many other agricultural businesses we employ people with different cultural backgrounds.

climate

Compared with organic tomato production in other parts of Europe we rely almost completely on the hot Spanish sun for heating. This means that our CO2 emissions are also much lower. In the winter however, we sometimes heat the greenhouse at night using natural gas. This is because we want to keep the temperatures as stable as possible. If the differences in temperature fluctuate too much the plant becomes stressed and that is not good for the taste. Basically plants are just like people .. they don't like stress !
When we use energy for other reasons for example in our pack house, we try to make the best use of solar energy.

water

Almería, where our business is located receives very little rainfall and can be described as a desert-like region. It is essential that everything is done to protect the natural resource and that is why we are not sourcing the ground water below our feet. Instead we work with the local government and use the water from the sea that has been desalinized in a special plant not far from us.

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